It started four years ago as an un-declared competition between my new neighbor Fred and me. I was never the competitive type, but seeing his Halloween decorations lit a spark in me. The fact I didn’t much like Fred and his “I’m better than you are attitude” provided another reason.
The first year my display was small, just a few plastic tombstones with funny sayings. A single strand of orange lights outlined the tops of the shrubs. The next year Fred and I doubled the number of items and drew the attention of our neighbors and their friends. Of course, the kids still liked the candy best.
Last year the event turned into a community competition, with the addition of orange and purple lights outlining every available surface on most of the houses along Trippet Street. Yards crammed full of spooky characters completed the displays. Robotic witches that cackled when someone walked by were especially entertaining.
Fred had a final addition he said would make his display the best ever. What was his grand surprise? Fireworks, which explains the three firetrucks, two cop cars, and ambulance blocking the street. It’a also why my roof is on fire.
Fred spent the night in jail. He, along with the rest of us, didn’t know rocket-style fireworks were illegal in populated areas. It didn’t help his cause that he drank more than his share of beer and bloodied a policeman’s nose. The saddest part for me was Fred missing my display winning the prize for Best in Neighborhood. I guess I wasn’t the only one who didn’t much like Fred.
